Environmental health in emergencies and disasters
Photo: Keystone
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Emergencies and disasters can occur anywhere in the world, affecting human health, people’s lives and the infrastructure built to support them. Environmental health problems arising from emergencies and disasters are connected to their effects on the physical, biological and social environment that pose a threat to human health, well-being and survival: shelter, water, sanitation, disease vectors, pollution, etc.
WHO’s work concerns not only effective response to emergencies derived from disasters but also reducing the vulnerability of communities to hazards and increasing their ability to withstand disruption and to recover rapidly.
Frequently asked questions in case of emergencies
This list of questions and answers provides answers to some of the issues that come up most frequently in relation to water and sanitation in emergency situations. They are divided into four categories—Health risks linked to drinking-water and sanitation; health risks due to stagnant water; and immediate actions in respect of water, sanitation and hygiene.
Frequently asked questions in case of emergency
Fact sheets
Four different kinds of fact sheets are provided. The first gives information on water, sanitation and hygiene specifically in emergency situations. The second is useful in a broader context. The third provides information on vector-borne diseases in an emergency situation. Lastly, a series of fact sheets shows how a variety of disease are affected by water and sanitation.
Fact sheets
Guidelines and technical guidance
WSH publications provide authoritative scientific and technical information. Linked here are those of most relevance to emergency preparedness, response and reconstruction efforts.
Guidelines and technical guidance
Related sites
This section provides links to key sites covering the South East Asia tsunami and earthquake, and other disasters
Related sites
See also
Java earthquake: environmental health and sanitation require serious attention
South East Asia earthquake: water, sanitation and hygiene severely compromized
Water, sanitation and hygiene links to health: facts and figures updated November 2004
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